page_title: Ayyavazhi rituals
section_title: Worship in front of a mirror
hierarchical_section_title: Ayyavazhi rituals / Worship in front of a mirror
caption_attribution_description: I Vaikunda Raja, took this photo graph.
context_page_description: Ayyavazhi rituals are the religious practices prevalent among the followers of Ayyavazhi. Most of them are connected with Akilam and Arul Nool and a few, though not associated with the holy books, are practiced for over a century right from the beginning of Ayyavazhi. Some practices are unique for Pathis and some others are common for all worship centres.
  Forms of worship and the features attendant on them can be said to be manifestations and indicators of the type of religiosity present in a religious universe. Apart from Basement of Philosophy and Theology, the various religious practices of Ayyavazhi are also the pillars on which it stands to prove its uniqueness.
  From the sociological point of view, it also strengthens both physically and mentally the socially downtrodden in a religious way. Several practices evolved in the Ayyavazhi tradition. Religious experience that was existent in Ayyavazhi seems to have expressed itself through certain forms with specific features as said in Akilattirattu Ammanai.
context_section_description: This is yet another unique practice that distinguishes Ayyavazhi from other Hindu religious traditions.  The Nizhal Thangals and Pathis have, in their sanctuary, a mirror to reflect the images of those who come to worship.  People pay obeisance to their God standing in front of this mirror, facing the Elunetru amidst two oil lamps.  Even in the houses of the people of Ayyavazhi, the place earmarked for their daily worship has at least a mirror and a lamp. This is to show the worshippers who go in front of the mirror that, 'God is inside him or herself'.
  Regarding the time of origin of this practice, as soon as Ayya attained Vaikundam – a religious euphemism to indicate pass over – people, as per his earlier instruction, installed the mirror over his tomb and began worshipping.
  The Ayyavazhi worship focuses on and revolves around the constant, formless, supreme self which exists inside and as all elements. But this formless self is visible or accessible in one or more different forms or ways with respect to the subjects (viewers); this was symbolised by using the mirror in the Palliyarai, that the image seen in a mirror is nothing but which varies according to the visible object. On the other hand, this mirror installation symbolises the advaidic term that  'God is you' , (i.e.) The mirror is kept facing the worshipper in Palliyarai, and one who sees the sanctum sanctorum only sees himself there.
caption: One of the rare photographs of Swamithope Palliyarai, where the inner mounted mirror is clearly visible.
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